Two Swordmasters


Book Description

The two martial arts masters in this book are the teachers featured in the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The first master, Chiang Shiao-ho, wrote and compiled the manual from which the hidden dragon learned martial arts. He and his sweetheart have to confront their conflicted feelings of love and the duty of revenge. The second master, Lee Mo-bai, struggles with his complicated feelings for Yu Ceo-lian. They are the older couple depicted in the movie. These two tragic love stories set in nineteenth-century China reflect the wishes of the Chinese people to eradicate two cruel traditions: an eye for eye vengeance and a living widow.




Highland Swordsmanship


Book Description

Scotland has a long and proud tradition of swordsmanship, something that is abundantly documented in its medieval literature. This publication reproduces two classic manuals of swordsmansip, both written in the early 18th century. The Expert Sword-Man's Companion' written by Donald McBane and New Methods of Fencing' written by Sir William Hope in 1707, both contain advice on the theory of swordplay, as well as technical and ethical issues and the realities of fighting. In this book Rector adds the necessary background material and the California Players re-enact many of the techniques discussed.




The Privilege of the Sword


Book Description

From the award-winning author of Swordspoint comes a witty, wicked coming-of-age story that is both edgy and timeless. . . . Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the city’s labyrinth of streets and ballrooms, theatres and brothels, boudoirs and salons. Into this alluring and alarming world walks a bright young woman ready to take it on and make her fortune. A well-bred country girl, Katherine knows all the rules of conventional society. Her biggest mistake is thinking they apply. Katherine’s host and uncle, Alec Campion, the capricious and decadent Mad Duke Tremontaine, is in charge here—and to him, rules are made to be broken. When he decides it would be far more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to ballroom and husband, her world changes forever. And there’s no going back. Blade in hand, it’s up to Katherine to find her own way through a maze of secrets and betrayals, nobles and scoundrels—and to gain the power, respect, and self-discovery that come to those who master. . . . “Unholy fun, and wholly fun . . . an elegant riposte, dazzlingly executed.”—Gregory Maguire, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked




The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches IV


Book Description

To turn back the tides of war, Queen Mother sent her most trusted warriors on a perilous journey across the Great Sea. But the elves were betrayed by one of their own and they did not find quick allies. They found a kingdom under siege and a shattered alliance. The elves were forced to proved themselves to the men who defended Quashan'.




Dune: The Battle of Corrin


Book Description

Following their internationally bestselling novels Dune: The Butlerian Jihad and Dune: The Machine Crusade, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson forge a final tumultuous finish to their prequels to Frank Herbert's Dune. Dune: The Battle of Corrin It has been fifty-six hard years since the events of The Machine Crusade. Following the death of Serena Butler, the bloodiest decades of the Jihad take place. Synchronized Worlds and Unallied Planets are liberated one by one, and at long last, after years of struggle, the human worlds begin to hope that the end of the centuries-long conflict with the thinking machines is finally in sight. Unfortunately, Omnius has one last, deadly card to play. In a last-ditch effort to destroy humankind, virulent plagues are let loose throughout the galaxy, decimating the populations of whole planets . . . and once again, the tide of the titanic struggle shifts against the warriors of the human race. At last, the war that has lasted many lifetimes will be decided in the apocalyptic Battle of Corrin. In the greatest battle in science fiction history, human and machine face off one last time. . . . And on the desert planet of Arrakis, the legendary Fremen of Dune become the feared fighting force to be discovered by Paul Muad'Dib in Frank Herbert's classic, Dune. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.




Dune: House Harkonnen


Book Description

Book Two of the Epic Prequel to the Classic Novel Dune—A Major Motion Picture Sequel to the international bestseller Dune: House Atreides Before Dune . . . The epic tale of Duke Leto Atreides and his rise to power . . . The fierce ambitions of his mortal enemy, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen . . . The struggles of the young girl Jessica, the Baron’s secret daughter, under the harsh training of the Sisterhood school . . . The schemes of Shaddam Corrino to create a synthetic spice that may bring unlimited wealth, or cause the collapse of the Spacing Guild . . . And the implausible dream of Planetologist Kynes to turn the desert planet Dune into a paradise, uniting the desperate Fremen into a force unlike anything the Imperium has ever seen . . . Dune: House Harkonnen continues the epic story that lays the foundation for Frank Herbert’s masterpiece Dune, a complex tale of politics, religion, and the rise and fall of dynasties on a galaxy-spanning canvas. Look for the entire prequel series DUNE: HOUSE ATREIDES • DUNE: HOUSE HARKONNEN • DUNE: HOUSE CORRINO




Girl Of Magical Fate


Book Description

In the 21st century, young girls crossed over to the Illusory Dream Continent due to gaming. They met two handsome guys and became extremely powerful people. They destroyed six countries and unified the continent ...




Sword Fighting in the Star Wars Universe


Book Description

Unlike most makers of modern or futuristic films, George Lucas turned away from the standard special operatives or secret agents when he created the heroes for his epic Star Wars saga. Part knight, part monk, the Jedi Knights were an order of swordsmen that helped rule the universe in accordance with law and lofty principles of justice and honor. Without the Jedi, there could be no Star Wars, and without the lightsaber sword, there could be no Jedi. This examination of the Jedi Knights, their adversaries the Sith and their lightsaber swordplay throughout all six episodes of the franchise evaluates the ways in which Lucas blended science fiction with the most ancient and epic tales of traditional samurai and Western swordsmen. It presents swordsmanship as a way to better understand the Jedi Knights, focusing on the human movement and activity surrounding the weapon and the ways in which traditional Japanese martial arts were adapted for use in the films. Topics of discussion include the powerful effects of the master-apprentice relationship; the technical choreography used in the lightsaber scenes of the Star Wars films; and the historical precedents for the Jedi order, including the Sohei fighting monks of Japan, the Janissaries and Mamelukes of Islam, and the knights of the Templar, Hospitaller and Teutonic orders.




Dune: House Harkonnen Vol. 2


Book Description

Spanning from Arrakis to Wallach IX, formative moments from major characters’ past in the Dune universe come to light driven by the ruthless machinations of House Harkonnen! Chaos ensues across planets with tense rescue missions, impossible choices, meanwhile events on Ix turn explosive, and Bene Gesserit plotting finally comes to fruition. As the Harkonnens brutality abounds on Arrakis, Liet and Warrick are pitted against each other in the name of love, Leto finds himself in a fateful meeting elsewhere, and Duncan takes a significant step toward who he’s destined to be... The tension rises in the thrilling prequel adaptation by authors Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson, artist Fran Galán (Creepshow), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (Fissure), where deadly choices and conflicts will shape the future of Arrakis and the entire Dune universe! Collects Dune: House Harkonnen #5–8.




Supreme Violent Young Master


Book Description

He was the mighty and domineering emperor of the Demon Clan, the Devil Sect Venerable One with unparalleled scheming, he was the leader of the buddhist faith. Chen Yuyang used his arrogant and domineering life to tell you this: As a man, you must be a dragon amongst men.